Just another random drabble. Enjoy.
Don stares at the empty driveway with a growing fear that spreads out into his fingertips. This kind of thing isn't uncommon in his line of work, yet he's never felt this way before. In all his years in law enforcement, he's never felt this helpless.
"Don?"
He can't look up, he can't break away from the pavement where it all went down. Soft hands massage his shoulders and Don finally turns to Megan, who is standing at his side with frustrated lines etched between her eyes.
"We didn't find a note," she says coolly, careful not to look him in the eye. He can tell.
The sun is hot on their backs but Don still shakes as the realization that his brother was taken right underneath his nose drills its way through his throat.
Charlie is gone. The words throb into his skull, painfully reminding him that he has failed his only brother.
"Maybe-" Megan begins, startled by Don's ringing cell phone.
Don sniffles loudly and flips his phone open. "What?" he says sharply.
There's a crackle of static, then, "Don...it's me."
Suddenly, Don's eyes burn. He stares hard at Megan and makes circular motions with his fingers. "Charlie? You hurt, buddy?"
Megan bolts up, cocks her head and starts to walk the perimeter of the house.
"I'm not hurt. Listen, Don, don't try to-"
There is struggling on the other end of the line and he starts to panic. "Charlie? Hey, Charlie!"
"No, just-let me-no!"
Don's breathing grows frantic. Then a new voice, deep and weary, floats through the receiver. "Is this Eppes?"
The rage kicks in. "Listen, you son of a bitch, if anything happens to him-"
"I know, I know, you'll kill me. Look, spare me, would you? It's been a long day."
FBI agents continue to circle around the house as Don's unease starts to bubble in his stomach. "What do you want? Just tell me."
"That, agent," the tired voice replies, "you can't give me. Your brother, though, just might be able to. I promise to give him back when I'm done."
Don sucks in air that chokes him. "We're gonna find you, you have to know that. I'm not gonna let this go."
The man pauses, then lets out a long breath. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
He hangs up, leaving Don to stand in the middle of the empty driveway, suffocating slowly with each passing second.